Hello there, Sarah. Thank you for bringing your question to us at planDisney. I love that you're planning ahead and am delighted to help with your question.
How wonderful that you will be celebrating your anniversary and your son's 18th birthday at the Happiest Place on Earth! There are many delicious restaurants to choose from in the
Downtown Disney District.
Advance dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance. Not all restaurants accept reservations, however, if you select the filter for "Reservations Accepted" you will see the list of places that do. I usually like to eat at the Uva Bar & Cafe in the Downtown Disney District. It has a more casual setting, so for your special occasion, you may want to look into the
Catal Restaurant. I took a peek at the
menu and found a lot of things that sound delicious.
There are also restaurants that can be accessed outside of the theme parks for a fun celebratory meal. There's the
Storytellers Cafe, which offers a buffet-style dining experience. If you decide to have breakfast here,
Character Dining is available and makes a fun way to start or finish your visit at the Disneyland Resort. At Storytellers Cafe, there's also the option to order a special
Mickey Mouse Celebration Cake to make the meal all that more magical. If a buffet is not your style, I would consider the
Napa Rose for an elevated dining experience. Both of these restaurants are located at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and can be accessed without theme park admission.
Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made up to 60 days in advance.
If you're also planning on visiting the parks, I recommend stopping by City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland, or Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park for a complimentary "Happy Birthday!" and "Happily Ever After" button to celebrate. They also make a fun little souvenir.
Sarah, I hope this has been helpful and I've given you some ideas to think about for your upcoming visit. If you have any additional questions, please visit us again at planDisney. I wish you all the best in your planning efforts and wish a magical birthday for your son and a magical anniversary for you!
Cheers,
Michelle